In April, everything is so beautiful. The spring breeze is gentle, the drizzle is misty, and even the sun is so tender. I am afraid it will hurt the April sky. These conditions allow thousands of pear trees to bloom, and hundreds of colorful flowers to bloom. Among them, only the true country of peonies color.
In the northeast of Qing Dynasty, a hundred miles away from where the Yellow River flows into the East China Sea, there is smoke from cooking, small bridges and flowing water, and it has a cool Jiangnan style. Three to five or six farmhouses are embedded in the sea of flowers. Farmers are plowing in the fields in spring, and children are playing in the fields. It is very peaceful. , very peaceful.
One of the eight-foot-tall young men was particularly conspicuous among the children. He was handsome, white, and majestic, and the coarse linen cloth could not cover the dust emanating from his bones. He was sitting slumped on a field, surrounded by children, and was telling all kinds of bizarre stories. Hearing it like no other, the words are friendly and the narration is vivid, making the working farmers prick up their ears to listen.
This person is none other than Zhao Zhengli, who disappeared from the Wulu Temple more than a month ago. Now the temple and the rivers and lakes are frantically searching for the relic of the rebellious minister.
He lived a comfortable and carefree life, but he worried a lot of worried people, and the Bi sisters were one of them. Ever since they learned that the old emperor of the imperial court had ordered to kill the "legacy of a rebellious minister", two beautiful beauties pulled out their hair. Sword was about to rush towards the palace, looking like he was desperate to die. As expected, the monk Mingwu stopped him and told a lot of reasons why the situation was unfavorable. The two sisters naturally didn't listen. Finally, the monk said helplessly. "Now that I'm dead, I'll never see Taoist Master Zhao again. With his Taoism, where in the vastness of the world can't he fit in?"
These words awakened the sisters of the Bi family like a revelation, and they murmured: "The Taoist Master said that he didn't like temples, so he used this opportunity to remain anonymous and retreat to the mountains..."
At this point, the two women gave up. They left a letter to the monk and left the next day.
The bitter monk Mingwu twirled the letter in a daze, touched his bare and ordained head, and couldn't figure out what was so attractive about Zhao Zhengli? All of them are beauties, just because they are good-looking? I'm not bad either. The only difference is that I didn't leave three thousand black hair on my head. They both came from Shu. How can the difference be so big?
In such a situation, there are very few people who can openly support Zhao Zhengli. Apart from the sisters of the Bi family, I am afraid that the only one is the young lady from the Yu family. As for the prince, the party's civil servants can't say they hate him. As long as he withdraws from the game of temple, everything will be over. That’s it.
The military attachés of the City King's Party were also in a state of arrogance, and some even expressed gloating about his misfortune. A few people from the Sansheng Tianshi Mansion, the only temple with which they had social contact, may have secretly lamented for him, but most of them watched the fire from the other side with the mentality that they were enemies. Zhang Ziya, who is now the guest of the prince, may have kept the relics of the capital for him because of his old acquaintance, because when Zhao Zhengli was dismissed from all positions, the palace had been taken back by the court.
According to internal and external analysis, those who really wanted his life were the old emperor, the grand master and the master. These few were undoubtedly insiders sixteen years ago, or those who set up the situation. They seemed to agree with the saying "cutting the grass will eliminate the roots." The cruel words of Jianghu.
.
Zhao Zhengli enjoyed the simple life of working at sunrise and resting at sunset. Although he was leisurely and comfortable in Qingcheng Mountain, he could not withstand the strict discipline of his senior brothers. Unexpectedly, the hard years he had endured had become the deepest memories of him when he came down the mountain.
Now even he himself wonders why he has become diligent, meditating in meditation in the morning and evening, and practicing boxing and Qi in the early morning, which is more effective than the personal supervision of the head master on the mountain.
Maybe this is the self-discipline of the head senior brother!
For more than a month, he felt that his Dantian was as calm as a rock, and the 361 acupoints penetrated by the dragon vein chess pieces were functioning freely, and his whole soul was emptied and sublimated!
In mid-April, on a silent night of spring rain, the thatched adobe farmhouse was instantly enveloped by the majestic spiritual energy. Then the spring rain in the night sky seemed to be suspended and suspended, and then an invisible energy burst out from the thatched adobe house, trapping the rain all over the sky. It was shattered into pieces by the shock and turned into steaming mist.
In the thatched house, Zhao Zhengli, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation, slowly opened his eyes, and the acupoints all over his body that absorbed spiritual energy in a clockwise direction disappeared, and everything returned to calm. The Qi flowed, and the Tao rhyme disappeared and appeared. He had the illusion that he could restrain the sky by raising his hand, and restrain the earth by covering his hand. It was as if there was infinite true energy in his Dantian, capturing the subtle three thousand avenues in the world, and everything seemed to be like it in an instant. All in the palm of your hand.
A smile appeared on his handsome face: "Is this what it feels like to be a master?" Then he greedily took a breath of fresh air: "It's wonderful!"
The Yin hour has just passed and the Mao hour has not yet arrived. The sky is in an alternating stage of brightness and non-brightness. Everything in the world is silent, and people, animals, birds and insects are deep in sleep.
The monks at this stage are also in a state of half-asleep and half-awake. In the night outside the mountain village, a robe is walking among the flowers, with a long knife hanging on the waist and the cold light is restrained. The person under the robe is like a carefree immortal playing in the world of mortals, taking several meters with each step. Elegant, as if he could shrink to an inch, he had already covered dozens of meters in three or five steps. He stared at the thatched farmhouse intently, looking for the fluctuations of his true energy earlier.
Zhao Zhengli, who was in meditation in the room, suddenly opened his eyes when he noticed a strange breath approaching. This person's breathing was long and he must be a profound person.
After Zhao Zhengli regained consciousness, he stood up and dressed neatly, pushed open the wooden door wrapped in straw mats, walked out slowly, and stood under the eaves. His otherworldly temperament gave the thatched house a bit of fairyland. The two faced each other across the hazy night sky. See.
Both sides were stunned: "Is it you?"
The visitor is Chen Xiaoyao, a native of Jiangnan Jianghu. He is handsome but only thirty, with bright eyebrows and a resolute complexion. They met at the Wulu Temple on the outskirts of Chenzhuang Town more than a month ago. The situation was chaotic that day, and he did not He was offered a reward for being able to kill Zhao Zhengli, but he helped others. Generally speaking, he was either good or bad, depending on his mood at the time.
Today he is wearing a green robe with a white shirt as a base, which adds a bit of cleanliness to him and highlights his fair skin. Coupled with his elegant and unrestrained movements, he looks like the cynical and handsome young man next door.
After Chen Xiaoyao recognized Zhao Zhengli, he smiled openly, but that smile made Zhao Zhengli tremble, like a jackal staring at a lamb.
Zhao Zhengli glanced at the farmhouse where he had lived for more than a month. At this moment, the family of three was snoring. He turned back and said calmly: "Change a place!"
Chen Xiaoyao didn't say much, turned around and headed towards the distant mountains and forests, followed closely by Zhao Zhengli.
The two of them were as light as swallows. They jumped over the roof, stepped over the flowers and grass, flew across the sky several feet at a time, passed through the sea of flowers, and entered the overgrown woods in a few breaths. This distance would have taken a lot of effort for ordinary people. For an hour, Chen Xiaoyao stood on the top of a towering green pine, while Zhao Zhengli stopped on the ancient locust tree. The two of them leaned down and looked at each other.
Chen Xiaoyao looked down and looked at him: "The emperor is also stingy. One million gold has actually shrunk to one hundred thousand gold. Although a hereditary title has been added, this may be very tempting to other people in the world, but I, Chen Xiaoyao, have no interest at all. For ten thousand gold, Wan Jin will offend the future Grand Master, this deal seems a bit risky, and it is estimated that only those sects from Jianghu family will plow into it with their heads down, after all, they have never even dreamed of hereditary titles."
"So why the late night visit?"
Zhao Zhengli squinted at Chen Xiaoyao above, not understanding his purpose at all. The Ziyang sword behind his back was trembling slightly, as if it was unsheathed with a sound.
Chen Xiaoyao smiled brightly, showing his white teeth: "Of course I want to make friends, otherwise I would still have a tryst with you?"
Zhao Zhengli still did not let down his guard: "You just said one hundred thousand gold? Hereditary title? What is it?"
Chen Xiaoyao was surprised: "You didn't know?" Then he glanced at his burlap clothes and felt relieved: "That's right, you can tell by your attire that you have been isolated from the world during this period."
Chen Xiaoyao held his arms and told the outside world about the major deeds, emphasizing his current identity and the various conditions for hunting him down. He was rewarded with a hundred gold for reporting his whereabouts, and a hundred thousand gold for the person who killed him. He was granted a hereditary title and was not implicated in the crime.
When Zhao Zhengli heard "not implicated", the corner of his mouth turned up with disdain and thought, "I am alone, how can I be implicated? The temple is really a more sinister and gloomy place than the rivers and lakes. You must first find a high-sounding reason for anything you do. This "relict son of a traitor" He was afraid that he would not be able to get rid of the crime. Zhao Zhengli was curious as to why the old emperor only issued the decree now. He had been in the capital for more than half a year before, which was the best time. Why not capture him on the spot? He had to wait until he left the capital and was in Wulu Sheng. The order was issued after the palace disappeared?"
The sky is getting brighter, and the sound of roosters and dogs barking can be heard.
Chen Xiaoyaoxiao was tired from standing, so he sat down on a pine branch and stretched: "After talking so much, my mouth is dry. Do you have to treat me to a drink?"
Zhao Zhengli came back to his senses, looked at the lazy man carefully, and suddenly asked: "Can you lend me a few taels of silver?"
The handsome man standing on the green pine branch almost stumbled and fell down when he heard this. He grabbed the tree branch and said, "Isn't it wrong to ask someone to borrow money when we first meet? Talking about money hurts feelings!"
Zhao Zhengli did not feel any danger from the other party and gradually relaxed his mind: "I heard that only those who can lend money are true friends!"
The man in green shirt on the branch suddenly became interested, and a smile appeared on his face, mysterious and interesting: "How much can I borrow?"
"Three to five to two hundred, take it as you see!"
"How many taels of silver do you call three, five, or two hundred?"
"Then two hundred taels!"
"Brother, I travel around the world seemingly carefree, but I am very poor! At most thirty taels!"
"Who in the world doesn't know that you, Chen Xiaoyao, made a lot of money by casually writing a book called "Dream Xiaoyao"? Since you sincerely make friends with me, this friendship is only worth thirty taels?"
"One hundred! No more."
"make a deal!"
The man in green robe on the branch of the green pine shook his head while taking out his money bag: "I, Chen Xiaoyao, have been out in the world for decades and this is the first time I have met someone like you who borrows money!"
Zhao Zhengli took two fifty taels of silver, weighed them and put them into his arms. He glanced at the handsome young man who was more than ten years older than him with satisfaction and said, "This friend of yours recognizes you!"
"..."
Chen Xiaoyao was ashamed. Why did he feel like he was trying to curry favor with him?
It was early in the morning when Zhao Zhengli returned to the farmhouse. The farmer and his wife were about to go out for spring plowing, carrying baskets on their backs. His children were about to climb up the thatched window where Zhao Zhengli lived to peek, but were frightened away by the willow branches in her mother's hands. The children squeezed out their brilliance without regret. The smiling face hugged the woman's thigh and acted coquettishly, and both the couple showed a simple smile.
call!
At the same moment, two figures soared into the sky from the direction behind the mountain, frightening the family of three into panic, thinking they were being attacked by mountain birds.
Zhao Zheng immediately comforted him: "Brother Zhang, it's me!"
The family of three heard a familiar voice, and then they had the courage to take a look. Two slender, straight men came into view. One of them was a handsome young man who had lived in their home for more than a month. He was an innocent child and recognized that the person coming was playing with him. The eldest brother, who had been many months old, asked out of curiosity: "Brother, are you an immortal? How did you come from the sky?"
Zhao Zhengli fondly touched her little head: "Big brother is not an immortal, he is just a seeking monk!"
The conversation between one parent and one child allowed the couple to clarify their doubts. An unnaturally stiff smile appeared on their faces. At this moment, their eyes were more awe-inspiring, and they were secretly glad that they had not made things difficult for him for more than a month.
Zhao Zhengli could see the couple's discomfort, which was why he had been hiding it. But now it was time to leave, and there was no need to hide it. He took out the one hundred taels of silver he borrowed from Chen Xiaoyao and handed it to the couple. He was so frightened that he quickly shook his head and refused. Although he had lived in his house for more than a month, he also helped with a lot of farm work and took care of his daughter. If he didn't know it, the couple would have to lecture him, but they found out that he was Feitian. How can a monk who has escaped to the earth dare to do so?
Zhao Zhengli didn't care what the two of them thought, and forced him to give it to the middle-aged farmer, asking him to improve the conditions and add some clothes for his mother and daughter.
Chen Xiaoyao crossed his arms and looked into his eyes, and interrupted: "The amount of silver you have is too big. If he takes it to the market, he will definitely get into trouble. Even if he goes to the bank to exchange a small amount, he will probably be questioned by the banker and the official uniform." Lu, won’t your whereabouts be exposed by then?”
Only then did Zhao Zhengli suddenly realize that he had ignored the strictness of the Qing Kingdom's laws, and then turned his attention to Chen Xiaoyao: "Do you have any loose money?"
Chen Xiaoyao rolled his eyes at him deeply, with reluctance written all over his face. He rummaged through the sleeves of his green robe, and counted: "Not many, plus the copper plates, there are six or seventy taels!"
Zhao Zhengli wiped the scattered coins from his palm smoothly. Chen Xiaoyao didn't even react. His hands were already empty. He even protested three times to no avail. Zhao Zhengli held the loose coins and responded: "Lend it to me first!"
The couple looked at each other in confusion. The skillful technique made them want to laugh, but they finally suppressed it. The only child looked at the four adults' "courtesy exchanges" with an innocent face.
Zhao Zhengli practiced this technique with Taoist Yuan in Qingcheng Mountain. Every time he went down the mountain, he had to ask him to get money to buy "health books and white flour steamed buns." With a touch, no matter how much he put it in his pocket, he rushed out of the door. Every time he thought of this kind of day, Zhao Zhengli was full of nostalgia.
In the end, the couple collected more than 70 taels of silver at Zhao Zhengli's sincere request, which was a huge amount of wealth for the farmers who were facing the loess. You must know that ordinary traders only get more than 20 taels of silver after a busy year, excluding taxes. , daily expenses, it is a great joy to have three or five taels in the pocket. Generally, people owe the government money year after year and hope to pay it back in the next autumn harvest. Year after year, they will never be able to fill the hole. They will not starve to death, nor will they be rich. Repeatedly, this naturally controls the ignorant people in the world.
This is the "thirty-three taels of silver" in the temple. No matter how the dynasties change, it is still passed down from generation to generation. This shows the significance of these more than 70 taels of silver to the farmer and his wife.
Farewell to the farmer surnamed Zhang, Zhao Zhengli and Chen Xiaoyao gradually went away. He left behind his original fur brocade robe and took it to the market no matter how he negotiated the price. If he cheated and cheated, it would be worth several taels of silver, so it was still left to him. Emergency needs at home.
In the flower field, Chen Xiaoyao began to chatter endlessly about "unkind people and careless friendships." Because Zhao Zhengli did not return the other one hundred taels of silver to him, all his belongings were more than one hundred and seventy taels, and now not a single copper penny was lost!
